Author Archives

Elizabeth Pelayo is the library media specialist at St. Charles East High School in St. Charles Illinois. She currently writes book reviews for School Library Journal. She is a member of the AASL AAUP Book Selection Committee. Also, she is a member of the nominations committee for the ISLMA Abraham Lincoln Book Award.

• To Kill a Mockingbird Themes with Student Choice

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 04/13/2021 • ( 0 )

  

  In my high school, teaching To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a requirement for all freshman English classes during second semester. This year I had a teacher approach me wanting to brainstorm ways we could make this book… Read More ›

• Reconfiguring My School Library’s Layout

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 03/12/2021 • ( 2 )

  

  When we think of librarianship, most of us don’t think about physical exertion and muscle power. Books are heavy, especially nonfiction. With my library closed I decided it was time to start moving things around in anticipation of next school… Read More ›

• Circulation Slump

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 02/09/2021 • ( 3 )

  

  For those of you working in closed libraries, I feel you. For those of you fighting your administration to just let one or two kids in, I understand you. I have been back in my library for two weeks now… Read More ›

• Top 5 Books for Teens New Year’s Resolutions

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 01/12/2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Just like adults, teens start the new year thinking about ways to improve, what they want to work on in themselves, new hobbies, goals for the future. The following is a list of the top 5 books that I will… Read More ›

• Navigating New Subscription Rollouts

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 12/10/2020 • ( 1 )

  

  Technology in schools has changed in the blink of an eye. What was a hard sell to school boards all over the country has now become a quick approval if it supports remote learning. I’m sure many of you are… Read More ›

• Print Nonfiction vs. Databases

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 11/11/2020 • ( 0 )

  

  For years I have heard librarians talk about the debate between print nonfiction and databases in their collections for research. With my library closed to students still and no end in sight, I thought it might be time to dig… Read More ›

• Stranger Library Reading Challenge

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 10/14/2020 • ( 4 )

  

  The month of October always brings scary and spooky reading challenges. My high school library is still closed for students, so I had to get creative on how to share and motivate my students to read this year. Creating a… Read More ›

• Staying Connected in Remote Learning

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 09/09/2020 • ( 0 )

  

  For many of us the feeling of connection in our profession has changed by the new educational world since the pandemic. We aren’t engaging with our students and staff in person, and we don’t have the chance for organic conversations… Read More ›

• Contactless Book Checkout Planning

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 08/11/2020 • ( 2 )

  

  Over the past few months we have all gotten used to contactless delivery and pickup at stores and restaurants. As we start the school year, planning for contactless delivery of library materials has been much the same. Our spaces are… Read More ›

• 5 Teen Titles to Read This Summer

  By Elizabeth Pelayo on 07/08/2020 • ( 0 )

  

  Summer break is a great time to catch up on new and popular titles in your patrons’ age range. Below is a list of the top 5 books I have been able to read so far this summer. As you… Read More ›